Looking for answers to life's questions

It’s here today and gone tomorrow. Spring finally showed up and I put out my welcome sign. In the next moment, we went back to winter then summer and finally spring again. What we had of spring was lovely Everything is confused except the bees. I’m listening to them.

Dressing in layers is the only way to go these days. We get a cold rainy day then a scorcher. One day I have lots of energy to put into the yard The next day I’m spinning my wheels and sitting trying to decide if I can do anything of use. I’ve been here in my cozy home for four years at the end of this month and made so many changes.

Spring is the month I can get the most work done outside and even inside. Once I could open all the windows, I took a day to clean my oven. Four years ago, it took 4 hours to clean that nasty mess the previous owner left for me. Now it’s taking me a whole day to clean a rarely used oven. Looks like some of my spring, sprang.

Ground cover spreading and front porch in need of serious help.

Weeding on the hill and the front yard took lots of rest periods that would never have happened four years ago. But the end result was worth it.

The entire top of the hill was covered in these sticker weeds. Birds carry the seeds everywhere as does the wind.

beginning of the weeding

Still more work to do but a good start. Lower bed is the Oregano and Thyme.

I have been gifted with pieces of many plants from friends around here. I take those gifts seriously and nurture them to the best of my ability. Of course, I gift in return. A neighbor came looking for Thyme to cook his dinner.He said what I gave would have cost him $5 for a small bundle, he wound up with triple for a thank you. I’ve offered my Oregano as well to anyone that wants fresh. I’ve passed on ground cover and anything that I’m growing that can be split. It’s how the world should work. I get a lot of my plants from a fellow blogger and photographer, Sabine.

Year 2 for the Forsythia start.

Pineapple Lily gifted last week.. I’m such a fortunate person. Sabine separates large clumps of bulbs to thin them out..

Planted last year and the Nigella has bloomed next to the Forget me not.

Sabine also gave me this foxglove along with the weed that came along for the ride. I’ve left it because the bees love it.

This was what butterfly bush looked like two years ago when I planted the starts from my friend, Sabine.

Planted last fall, this gift is going strong.

A big change in two years. Can you see the Lemon Cypress under it? I think it will have to be moved.

A neighbor no longer wanted this Honeysuckle. It’s second season is looking very promising.

There are lots of projects on the list. This week I had the distinct urge to take care of my window trim as it was the last cool, cloudy day on the sunny side of the house. If the butterfly bush blooms, it will be covered in bees which are not conducive to standing on the ladder with black paint. I’m embarrassed to say it’s taken two years to get to this. I’ll do the one on the front porch tomorrow. Then I must sand the stairs and railing on the front porch and re-stain. Today I can’t move. Old feet on ladders takes its toll. I’ll wait for the next surge of energy. They don’t come so often anymore.

Old tape in the sun for 2 years.

Finished trim before the bush blooms.

This is what the other window looked like. This one will be done this week too.

So I’ve hung up the Welcome Summer sign since my spring is sprung anyway. How about you? Are you ready to welcome the next season or is there still a spring in your step?

Comments on: "Spring, Sprang, Sprung" (63)

Both your welcome signs look so lovely, Marlene! And your flowers and plants are beautiful and so lush! You have some very green fingers. 😉 How lovely that you and your neighbours share plants, especially lovely herbs that also costs small fortunes in our supermarkets.
My mum’s coming to an age where she also has to have little resting periods between outings or gardening and these things. She can’t really get her head around it though and sometimes tries harder which sadly backfires a lot. I tell her that it’s so important to know and accept our limits and that she shouldn’t beat herself up.

Marlene, your garden looks fabulous in this post, but it’s much more beautiful up close and personal! I loved my tour last week and seeing how well everything is growing! I’m going to start some cuttings of the Creamsicle butterfly bush this weekend. Those stay smaller than the other ones, and smell like honey! Sharing plants, gardening tips and gardening adventures with likeminded souls is one of the great things in life. The ground cover you passed on to me is really doing well!
Thanks for being a great friend in both of my worlds: the physical one and the blogosphere one! 💖

Marlene, it’s not always important to share totally equally at the same time. I have been your friend long enough to know that you give plenty! In all different ways! It’s not the stuff (things one can see) that matters. A good friend also listens and shows an interest in others. Those are rare skills anymore! You possess those skills and I also know that you’re very giving with many others as well. That’s what really matters most. Have a terrific day! 😘

I love your “Welcome Summer” sign, Marlene. I think your garden looks beautiful. The work will get done. Just do a little at a time and it will add up…kind of like writing a book. 🙂 Gosh, we’ve had a terrible spring. For three weeks straight we had tropical downpours and dew points that were so oppressive you broke into a sweat just standing outside. Now, we have temperatures in the 90’s. Can I borrow your sign? 🙂 I hope you feeling well…aside from your feet. ❤

Thank you so much, Jill. I made those signs when I lived in my apartment. They are fun to do. I know about your spring. Mother Nature is having her say in the world. No one seems to be listening. Our weather has been so much kinder than any you have had. I’d be happy to make a sign for you. 🙂

Your Spring was a lot like ours. It would get hot, then cold, then nice again. Right now it’s great. 🙂 Love your garden. Having a garden like that is one of my dreams. Just right now, I can’t take care of one or even put one in. 😦 One day I hope. Hope this is one of your good days, my friend. Sending lots of love. ❤

The heat is coming next week and I wish I could go find an ice cube to live on sometimes. As for the garden, it’s more than I can manage anymore. It gets harder as time goes by. Who knows how this will progress. Just keep taking care of yourself.

Thank you, Val. I love watching the hundreds of bees out there every day. They are on the purple ground cover, the foxglove, the rhododendron and the weed. I think we have made a lot of organic honey somewhere this year. Hope you are well and having a wonderfilled week.

Your spring seems to have resembled my autumn Marlene, which swung wildly between premature winter and delayed summer heat every day. It certainly keeps us on our toes doesn’t it. My season has now settled into full on winter however which indicates a long and cold haul for us. There has been some snow which is really quite rare even in July and August. Apart from the loss of light I am not minding however it gives me long hours with my yarn and hook or my paints and brushes 🙂 Your garden is looking lovely, so full and colourful and I love that it has been made with shared plants too. It is indeed how things once were always done and now should be done more often. Four years in your own home already – congratulations, you know that I think it is so wonderful! xoxo

Thank you so much, Pauline. They are expecting a hotter than normal summer again and I’m sure they may have the science behind them. Mother Nature is not happy with us but our president doesn’t seem to notice, 😦 I love winter for the same reasons. Time to work on crafting projects. I’m delighted to be here 4 years and every night I write my gratitude for this place. I look around and love everything about it. Including the safe neighborhood. Sharing is what we all want to do. Just finding the way. I too love more light too. Hope you are doing well. Miss hearing from you but I’m having trouble posting regularly too. Giant hugs and love.

Marlene, you have a friendship garden! Both out your door, and in so many other was as well. Your yard looks beautiful. I can only hope to have mine sort of taken care of by the end of summer, as we’ve started from scratch with a barren waste of weeds. But, one section at a time, progress is being made. Thanks for sharing!

That’s how I take working on this yard, one section at a time. It IS a friendship garden! I love that! Thank you. I have a memory garden up top as well. It’s been four years of work but my friends and neighbors have made it easier. I could not afford many plants but my friends have been kind. Thank you so much for stopping by.

I’m going to make a Friendship Garden sign and put it back there thanks to your wonderful suggestion. You hit the nail on the head with that one. Thank you. Wish you could come up to visit sometime. Miss seeing you.

Getting old isn’t for sissies, is it, Cathy. I’m hoping things are getting better at your end. Keep good thoughts for you and yours. I’m having my own challenges which make the work more tiresome but the garden is a source of pleasure and necessary these days. Thanks to good friends and neighbors, it’s been possible.

I love that you can identify the giver of so many of your plants! Those personal connections make the garden extra special and extra interesting. What a lot of hard work, though–but the pay off is enormous!

Thank you, Kerry. I’m one of those people that loves to play in the dirt. Neighbors and friends sharing parts of plants is something new to me but I love it. It would not be so diverse without them and their knowledge. Have a wonderfilled weekend.

Marlene, I’ve had fun clicking on all your photos. I love looking at all the details. Gardening is in my blood it seems, and clearly it’s in yours. One of your readers called this a “friendship garden” and I would have to agree. How lovely to have so many plant starts, shared bulbs, herbs and the like both coming and going from your garden. I have a book on what to plant to get the biggest bang for your buck, and tomatoes and herbs of any kind are at the top. (Potatoes are at the bottom). It’s based on your cost vs return, and apparently potatoes can be bought much cheaper then they can be grown in your average garden. As your friend noted, herbs cost a fortune.

I’m sorry to hear that the fatigue is rearing its ugly head and robbing you of your energy. You’ve accomplished so much, even with those extra challenges. Sometimes its good to give in to the need to rest; other times the fresh air and exercise do us good. I guess it’s that life long battle of finding the right balance at the right time in our lives.

Thank you so much, Alys. I’m going to make a sign that says ‘Friendship Garden’ Sabine is an excellent gardener as well and very generous with her starts. I am working out the balance between rest and work plus fresh air. There is no option but to rest between projects. Another done today. 😉 I am going to reply to your note shortly. I love my garden and rain is coming tomorrow for the weekend. Of course it’s the Rose Festival parade on Saturday and they will be wet. ;( Hugs and love.

Thank you for your kind words, Karen. I love to play in the dirt. I’ve had a lot of help from friends to make this area more beautiful each year. The land and nature give us life so how can we not take care of it. I truly consider Mother Nature my own mother with deep respect and honor. I wish most days that I could do more.

Yes, Mother Nature is key to life, and thank goodness she is talented people like you to help take care that our world be beautiful, healthy and to let Mother Nature know we do care. I used to have a vegetables garden, and even planted a few apple trees, but I only do a few potted plants now, because we live in a subdivision that doesn’t allow it, They do all the gardening, but they really just cut the grass. Karen

Marlene, you have a green thumb. Your flower garden is absolutely beautiful! You are a champion. Things may take a while to get done (that’s me all over), yet you always have a positive attitude and ‘forge-on’. That is so wonderful. Tomorrow when I’m tired and tackling the garden I’ll chant “Mar-lene.” I really think it will help. 🙂

You make me laugh, Jennie. I can just hear the chant from this distance. I get lost in the garden. Time stops and hunger disappears. I sit a lot more than work these days but I haven’t given up entirely yet. I’ll be thinking of you in your garden. 😉 Thanks for stopping by.

It is always intriguing to me that the northies – northern hemisphere residents are so obsessed with the springing of Spring! But I can see that it does have a real physical effect. My friends in Scandinavia are literally jumping out of their skins with excitement. We don’t really have a Spring like yours, but for a short time the weather is tolerable before the energy draining humidity and heat set in. I find autumn winter is my “spring” – I have much more energy to weed the garden without suffering heat stroke in the process, and start to de-clutter, paint and clean up. Your garden looks huge! A lot to manage but it gives back in abundance by the sound of things. It is a good policy to stagger your tasks across many hours. The satisfaction will still be there at the end of the day.

I’m with you, Autumn is my favorite time of year. I do the work necessary in spring as we have inspections and everything must look nice. I do NOT do heat. It’s coming next week and I will not venture out. The garden feels larger every year. It’s almost more than I can manage anymore but still trying. I’m ready for winter again. We are having the last breath of cool this weekend and then summer comes full on. I do not like summer for the same reasons you listed. Thank you for stopping by and your kind words.

Thank you, Eddie. Gardening is fun. Hail did a bit of damage yesterday so I will be back out there tomorrow when the rain stops to clean up a bit. Some of us are born to play in the dirt. I’m sure you were too. 😉 Have a wonderfilled week ahead.

Oh how I love this time of year! I love the flowers, the sounds of the birds, the green, green, green everywhere! Where I live in NC, it’s like the seasons really do follow the calendar. When the spring equinox comes, it’s a little more like winter than summer, but it doesn’t take long for everything to wake up and for the weather to warm up. By the summer solstice, it’s in the mid-80s every day. But, we have yet to turn on the AC. We’re fortunate to have a rock house, so the temperature inside stays pretty stable. 🙂
Your flowers are GORGEOUS!! Wow! I just love all the cuttings and starts you have. So beautiful and so fun! It’s so fun to share and be gifted with sweet plants and trinkets from friends!
I hope you’re doing well. Just keep on keeping on. You’ll get there. ❤ Sending you big hugs!

Thank you so much, Cynthia! I’m under a blanket today at it’s not even 60 out yet at 11 am. Next week will be mid 90’s ! I live in a manufactured home in a park and it does get quite warm in here at that temp. I close up early in the morning when the heat gets that warm and turn on the whole house fan of the AC unit and then AC compressor rarely has to come on. You just keep the cool circulating and it stays better and saves money on electricity. 🙂 I learned that when we lived in Tenn. You have had your share of weather in NC! I love spring, hate, hate, hate summer. I’d rather have winter even though it’s dark. 🙂 Doing as well as I can and I’m keeping on. 🙂 Thanks for the hugs and right back at you. Have a wonderfilled week and thanks for stopping by.

Dear Marlene, how wonderful to see your garden springing into summer! It looks so beautiful, all your hard work has certainly paid off, big time. And how wonderful to share your herbs and plants, I’m not surprised to read you’ve been gifted so many lovely plants, as you are such a giving and beautiful heart ❤
It's been the same here with the weather, we went from the longest, coldest, snowiest winter for years straight into summer it seems! We had those really hot, heatwave days, and lots of them, just had another spate this past weekend, then we go back to rain and grey and cool. Although it is still quite humid here, but supposed to be freshening up from tomorrow onward. Lovely to be back here, I promise to try and do better with my visits. I get lost in the stuff of life, and I do much miss you, but wonderful to still be in touch via our blogs! Huge squishy hugs to you my friend, have a wonderful spring to summer 🙂 ❤ 🙂

Thank you so much for stopping by, Sherri and your kind words. We are always going in so many directions that it’s hard to get to everything we want to do. Life does have it’s own agenda so we must go with the flow. I’ve backed off a great deal as well. Spring and summer are difficult to get to the interior work. My sewing is not getting done either. I think I get a bit lazy as I get older. Slowing down. Hope to see you here again soon. Hugs, m

I find it very hard to be inside typing when it’s so nice outside and work in the garden beckons. Today, it’s a bit grey and rainy – which we badly need – so I’m catching up with comments, but the sun is trying hard to come back out and play. One direction at a time it is…at the pace that suits us the best. I will be back to keep tabs on you my friend. You can’t escape me that easily, ha! Have a lovely week my friend…hugs back… xxx

Hey hey Vonderfrau ! You are an Every Ready Bunny making so many beautiful changes to your once sad and neglected property. I wonder if the past owner drives by? They would be green with envy. You live in the perfect climate I think. I’ve been slowly replacing perennials’ in the garden. We had a frigid winter with little snow at first. The dry, cold weather is deadly for plants with no insulation (snow on top). Today is the perfect day here to work outside, cool and breezy. But I’m off to my Aunties for a visit and don’t want to muck around outside b4 I head out.
Your bright green and purple ground covers look spectacular. I love how that garden looks. Summers are so short here but your garden is inspiring me to get it done out there. The crack of Thursday might do fine 😀 Hugs my dear xoxo K

Marlene, your gardens are just wonderful, I thoroughly enjoyed looking at your photos. And I agree, sharing with others is definitely the way the world should work! Down here I’m now in Winter and it’s wonderful! My morning walk is in beautiful fresh, cool air, and I’ve got more energy during these lovely cool(er) but sunny days. Thanks for making me smile again today!

Thank you so much, Clare. I love doing random acts of kindness. They are good for me. 😉 I will miss the cooler weather as this is our last day of it. I am noticing that I get cold easier this last year so maybe the heat will not be as much a burden as before. Next week will be blistering and I will have to water a great deal more in some areas. Others are holding the moisture better and I’m working on making all areas more drought tolerant. I love walking in the early morning fresh air. I put my energy into the front garden today instead of a walk. The back will be worked on later today. Hoping to get it all ready for the summer months. I love the extra daylight though. Happy I could make you smile. There is always something to smile about. 😉 Enjoy your winter.

Marlene its wonderful what you have done in your garden and around your home, I know how much love and attention you have poured into it.. So loved your photos Marlene.

And I smiled when you said about the time it takes now to complete chores.. i know once upon a time we would rush headlong into a task and have it completed in no time..
Now I take my time also, breaking off for breaks in-between. These days nothing is rushed LOL..

Love what you’re doing with your herb beds too, love Oregano and Thyme I have mine in pots.. on the patio and often brush my hand along them, and the Rosemary for their fragrance.

And yes each gifted plant is a treasure I know.. My daughter and I often exchanging things we have grown.. Today she visited, Its Father’s Day here, So she bought him a new hoe, the kind he has been wanting for a while, And three new Dahlia varieties he hasn’t got, and tried her best to replace one kind that did not survive the overwintering.. So thoughtful .. She went back with veggies from the allotment and two Hydrangeas her dad had grown from cuttings last year.. 😀

Your Window project too, a task, but I am sure well worth it and will be beneficial in the winter months I am sure.
Like you Spring didn’t know if it was coming or going.. But so far, Summer here has been a decent one Can not believe it will soon be mid summers day then we go back again.. lol..

I may start some of the Oregano and Thyme in pots too. Have a third rosemary growing in one. The herbs have overgrown and I need to give them more care. Next week when the baking of the sun is over. I have to work early mornings this week. 🙂 It’s Father’s day here but I have no one celebrating it. So just having a quiet restful day. Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy the time in the garden with new tools and plants. You have a good daughter. Giant hugs. M

Yes I keep in pots and cut back, Great it is fathers day the same day, Yet Our Mothers day is different.. I wonder why that is.. Ours in in March.. and yours is always after it.. Lol..
Yes we have a wonderful daughter who is very thoughtful in her gifts..
Sending HUGE hugs back too.. ❤ and take care.. xx

Your place is truly transformed. I remember the photos of your ground cover out front when you first planted it. Now the front garden is stunning with colour and you can’t tell it’s only a couple years old. The back is remarkable in how much has changed. It must be lovely to go out there and just gaze at all the ways you have improved the land. The butterfly bush is growing like crazy! Such gorgeous plants. Love your honeysuckle, with those bright flowers. I have a honeysuckle that has been in the ground for three years, but I keep neglecting to cover it and the deer eat all the leaves off. This year I finally threw some netting over it, and viola! It’s covered in leaves and looks really healthy. No flowers yet, but I definitely blame myself for that. I may not be the quickest, but I do, eventually, get to my ToDo list.

Thanks for stopping by, Crystal. Can’t believe it’s been 4 years I’ve been here. Gardens are always in motion. The heat and the slugs are doing the most damage here. I love seeing the deer on your place. You are lucky to catch such wonderful photos. The friend that gave me the cuttings of the butterfly bush 2 summers ago can’t believe how big it is either. We are going to have to seriously take it down a notch this fall. Gives me lots of privacy over my bedroom window and it’s fun to watch bees and butterflies from my bed. Your honeysuckle will come back soon fully.